NASA silent on Smith request for information

On Aug. 27, Texas Republican Lamar Smith, chairman of the U.S. House Science, Space and Technology Committee, wrote to NASA Administrator Charles Bolden asking for a status report on the new Space Launch System and Orion crew vehicle, key projects in returning the nation to preeminence in space.

Other than a cursory acknowledgement that NASA received the letter, Smith got crickets.

A September 10 committee deadline passed, and still no reply.

So on Wednesday, Smith tried again, firing off a letter to NASA complaining that the agency has ignored a number of requests for information this year.

Similarly, NASA public affairs officials did not respond to requests from the Chronicle on Wednesday asking about Smith’s complaint, which is t that the information he seeks is necessary for the committee’s oversight responsibilities.

The exchange, or lack thereof, follows allegations by some House Republicans that the Obama administration has underfunded the programs, which are at the center of a debate about NASA’s future focus.